The ConquistadorsThis enthralling study which examines the impact of the Spaniards upon the Aztec and Inca worlds is dominated by the personalities involved, in particular Cortes and Montezuma. Their confrontation in the Aztec lake-city of Tenochtitlan is a moving drama of human conflict revealing the dilemma and the enigma of the Indians. It is a story of battles and voyages, full of strange episodes Cortes burning his ships, Pizarro drawing a line with his sword, saying "Gentlemen, this line represents toil, hunger, thirst, weariness, sickness" and daring them to cross it, and Atahualpa nursing his wound in the hot springs of Cajamarca and watching, with his army, the tiny band of Spanish adventurers descending the green slopes of the Andes." |
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already Alvarado arms army arrived Atahualpa attack Aztec battle Bernal Díaz brought building called camp captains century chiefs coast command conquest Córdoba Cortés Cuba Cuzco death Diego Columbus Emperor empire encomienda expedition face fact feathers fighting finally five followed force four give given gold governor ground hands head hills horses houses hundred idols Inca Indians island killed king lake land later Mexicans Mexico miles Moctezuma mountains moved night offered once orders Panama pass Peru Photo Pizarro position priests probably reached remains result river royal sailed says seems sent settlement ships silver soldiers Spain Spaniards Spanish stone temple thousand Tlaxcalans took town Velázquez vessels walls warriors whole wounded